“The doctor will listen to their issue or concern, ask
questions, and examine them to the extent possible,”
says Dr. Sara Perkins, a dermatologist at Yale Medicine.
“They will make recommendations and a plan for
follow-up, if needed.”
Many medical conditions can be handled with
telemedicine, but of course, there are constraints. Dr.
Perkins notes that dermatology relies heavily on visual
recognition, making it in some ways ideal for
telemedicine. Dr. Kellner says that many urologic
complaints and even complex conditions can be
managed in part with telemedicine, though not all.
³:HDUHLQWKHGLJLWDODJHEXWZHKDYHQ¶W¿JXUHGRXW
how to do a digital rectal exam through a telemedicine
visit,” he says.
AFTER THE VISIT
At the conclusion of the telemedicine visit, you can
expect the same as you would from any other one. Dr.
Kellner says patients will be set up for either further
testing, lab testing, imaging, further telemedicine or
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to a pharmacy or mail-order prescription service.
6KRXOG\RXKDYHDQ\TXHVWLRQV\RXFDQFDOOWKHṘFHDV
you normally would.
“We’re relying heavily on telemedicine visits while we
have the epidemic,” Dr. Kellner says. “I think these are
here to stay. Having this epidemic has really accelerated
our use of telemed visits, and I anticipate this will
forever change medicine moving forward.”
Many medical
conditions can
be handled
with
telemedicine,
but of course,
there are
constraints.
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